Combined drain strainer and stopper

ABSTRACT

A COMBINED SINK STRAINER AND STOPPER ASSEMBLY WITH RESILIENT MEANS CARRIED BY THE STRAINER BASKET AND ENGAGEABLE WITH RIGID MEANS CARRIED BY THE STRAINER HOUSING FOR SECURING THE STOPPER IN DRAIN CLOSING POSITION UPON DEPRESSION OF THE STRAINER BASKET ASSEMBLY.

June 29, 1971 A. J. HIERTZ .5889

COMBINED DRAIN STRAINER AND STOPPER Filed Sept. 11. 196 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0Q SQ n I IOQ in Mun-d E A A &: Q 11 Q; I 14 F IG. 3

INVENTUR ARTHUR J. HIERTZ ATTURNIfY June 29, 1971 J, Tz 3,588,928

COMBINED DRAIN STRAINER AND STOPPER Filed Sept. 11. 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 3 #1 man I0 17b 17c l3 ATTORIWz'Y A. J. HIERTZ 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTUR A R T H U R J H E R T Z ATTURNl-IY June 29, 1971 COMBINED DRAIN STRAINER AND STOPPER Filed Sept. 11. 1969 FIG. 9

United States Patent US. Cl. 4--287 6 Claims m, Maw-M.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A combined sink strainer and stopper assembly with resilient means carried by the strainer basket and engageable with rigid means carried by the strainer housing for securing the stopper in drain closing position upon depression of the strainer basket assembly.

The present invention relates to a combined sink strainer and stopper assembly which may be utilized conveniently in the drain opening of a conventional sink, basin or the like. The assembly includes a housing providing operative connection between the sink and drain pipe, a perforated refuse retaining container or basket receivable within said housing, a resilient stopper carried beneath the basket and intended for engagement with a valve seat formed in the housing adjacent the lower extremity thereof to effectively present drainage from said sink, and resilient means as sociated with said stopper for engagement with rigid upstanding means mounted upon the bottom wall of the housing for securely retaining the stopper in drain closing position upon downward movement or depression of the strainer basket assembly.

The assembly may be manufactured with particular economy and installed with ease, requiring no special tools or skilled labor.

No specific alignment or association is required as between the strainer basket and the housing; the assembly is self-aligning without any necessity for axial orientation and drain closing is accomplished effectively by simple vertical depression, with upward movement of the basket assembly disengaging the stopper retaining means and permitting free drainage.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a novel sink strainer and stopper assembly, the sink being illustrated fragmentarily;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the sink strainer and stopper assembly, illustrating the sink stopper in drain closing position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the strainer basket and stopper in elevated or normal draining position;

FIG. 4 is a transverse detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, similar to FIG. 1, of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the strainer and stopper assembly shown in FIG. 5, illustrating the stopper in drain closing position;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 6', illustrating the strainer basket and stopper assembly in elevated or normal draining position;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIGS. 2 and 6, and illustrating a still further modified form of the invention, the basket and stopper being shown in drain closing position;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the sink strainer and stopper assembly of FIG. 9, illustrating the stopper in elevated or normal draining position; and

FIG. 11 is a transverse detail sectional view taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 9.

As shown in the drawings, a portion S of a sink, basin, or the like is provided with the conventional drain opening within which the strainer and stopper assembly housing of the present invention is received. This assembly includes a tubular member, housing or shell 10 provided with an annular flange 1012 which rests upon a complementarily inclined depressed portion provided in the sink S. The tubular shell 10 also includes an externally threaded strainer basket receiving portion and a locking nut 11, engaging washers 11a and 11b, to provide a fluid-tight joint with the bottom wall surface of the sink, basin, or the like, S.

Adjacent its lower extremity, the strainer basket receiving portion 10a is provided with an inwardly directed and downwardly inclined portion 10c which terminates in a valve seat 10d, the shell 10 including an externally threaded depending tubular portion 10c of reduced diameter which is provided with an inwardly directed flange 10f at the lower extremity thereof, this flange including a spider 10g to permit free drainage therethrough. A lock nut 12 is provided whereby the outwardly flanged upper extremity 13a of a drain pipe 13 is securely locked against the inturned flange 10 of the strainer assembly.

The strainer basket or strainer 14 is removably received within the portion 10a of the shell or housing and is of conventional configuration, being provided with spaced slots 14a in the peripheral wall thereof and spaced apertures 14b in the bottom wall to permit free drainage of liquid therethrough while at the same time insuring retention within the strainer basket of particles of Waste material.

The strainer basket 14 is provided with a centrally located post, post member or knob 15 which includes an enlarged head portion 15a, to make for convenient grasping and manipulation, and a lower portion 15b, desirably of reduced diameter, which depends through a suitable centrally located aperture in the bottom wall of the strainer basket. The stopper 16 is secured upon the depending extremity 15b, in intimate relationship with respect to the bottom surface of the strainer basket 14, in any desired manner. Preferably, the stopper 16 is produced from resilient material, such as rubber or the like, is provided with a centrally located aperture through which the reduced portion 15b of the post 15 depends; and includes a recess 16:: Within which a washer 15c may be received, the extremity of the reduced portion 15b being peened over as indicated at 15d to securely lock the strainer basket and stopper in assembled relationship.

The stopper 16 is provided on the bottom surface thereof with a preferably integral tubular portion 16b of reduced diameter and this tubular portion or extension is slotted diametrically as indicated at 16c to create a plurality of depending fingers 16d, each of which includes an inwardly directed cam surface 16e provided for a purpose to be described more fully hereafter.

A stopper aligning and retaining post, 17 is rigidly mounted upon the spider 10g in any desired manner. As shown in the drawings, particular reference being had to FIGS. 2 and 3 thereof, the retaining post 17 includes an enlarged head portion 17a and a lower portion 17b of reduced diameter which is received within a suitable aperture located centrally of the spider 10g, the extremity of the portion 17b being peened over as indicated at so as to securely lock the retaining post in assembled relationship.

The strainer basket and stopper assembly are illustrated in FIG. 4 in opened or draining position with the locking fingers 16d resting upon the enlarged head portion 17a of the stopper retaining post 17 and with the stopper 16 well elevated above the valve seat 10d. When it is desired to close the sink or basin, and prevent drainage therethrough, the strainer basket and stopper assembly are depressed vertically to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings where the enlarged cam surfaces 16e of the resilient locking fingers 16d will have engaged and passed over the enlarged head portion 17a of the stopper aligning and retaining post 17, thereby guiding the stopper 16 to compressive engagement with the valve seat 10d so as to create a fluid-proof seal therewith, thus efiectively preventing drainage from the sink or basin. Lifting of the strainer basket and stopper assembly to free the stopper fingers 16a from the retaining post 17 is all that is required to restore drainage conditions.

It will be noted that, in the form of the invention described hereabove, the strainer basket and stopper constitute a unitary and rigid assembly. In distinction, in the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8 of the drawings, the strainer basket is free to rotate upon or to be moved vertically with respect to the operating post or knob 15 to which the stopper 16 is secured. Thus, the housing or shell 10 as well as the stopper 16 and the stopper aligning and retaining post 17 are identical as described in detail hereabove and no further discussion thereof is believed to be required.

As illustrated, the strainer basket 14- is provided with a centrally located sleeve portion 140 within which the post 15 is received, minimal clearance being provided so that, if desired, the strainer basket may be either elevated or moved in a rotative direction with respect to the post 15. The remaining structural differences in this form of the invention over that disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings is that a washer 15e, or the like, is positioned upon the reduced portion 15d of the post 15, upon the upper surface of the stopper 16, whereby, in assembled relationship, the stopper is compressed to an appropriate degree between the opposed washers 15e and 150. With this structural relationship the strainer basket 14 rests upon the upper surface of the washer 15a and depression of the post 15 engages the depending fingers 16d of the stopper 16, when drainage closure is desired, and this is accomplished without necessarily moving the strainer basket in a downward direction. Further, where the head 15a of the post 15 is separable from the post, detachment of the strainer basket for possible replacement of either basket or washer, or for any other purpose, may be accomplished with particular facility.

In the further modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11 of the drawings, the strainer and stopper assembly comprises a tubular member or shell 20 provided with an annular flange 20b which rests upon a complementarily conformed or inclined depressed portion provided in the sink, basin, or the like S. The tubular shell 20 includes an externally threaded strainer basket receiving portion 20a and an appropriate locking nut 21, engaging washers 21a and 21b, and creates a fluid-tight joint with the bottom wall surface of the sink S, or the like, in the conventional manner as is well known in this art.

The lower extremity of the strainer basket receiving portion 204: marges into an inwardly directed and downwardly inclined portion 200 which terminates in a valve seat 20d, the shell 20 also including an externally threaded depending tubular portion 211e, of reduced diameter and extending downwardly from the valve seat, which is provided with an inwardly directed flange 20 at the lower extremity thereof, this flange constituting a spider 20g to permit free drainage therethrough. A lock nut 22 is provided whereby the outwardly flanged upper extremity 23a of a drain pipe 13 is securely locked against the inturned flange 20 of the strainer assembly as is well known in this and related arts.

The strainer basket 24 is removably received within the portion 20a of the housing and is of substantially conventional configuration being provided with spaced slots 24a in the peripheral wall thereof and spaced apertures 24b in the bottom wall to permit free drainage of liquid therethrough while at the same time insuring retention therein of particles of waste material.

The strainer basket is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 24c at the upper surface thereof and this flange seats upon a shoulder 2011 provided in the annular flange 20b of the shell or housing 20.

The strainer basket 24 is further provided with a centrally located sleeve portion 240 through which the stopper control post 25 extends, the basket 20 sliding freely upon this control post which includes an enlarged head portion 25a, to make for convenient grasping and manipulation, and a lower portion 25b, desirably of reduced diameter, which extends through a centrally located aperture in the stopper 26.

Preferably the stopper is produced from resilient material, such as rubber or the like, and a stopper aligning element 28, which may be produced from any suitable material including metal and constitutes a plurality of depending and spaced spring fingers 28a, mounted upon the reduced extremity 25b of the control post 25. As shown in the drawings, a washer 250 may be provided above the stopper 26, the reduced extremity of the control post 25 extending through this washer, the stopper, and also the aligning element 28 and being peened over as indicated at 25d to securely lock these parts in assembled relationship.

A stopper retainng post 27 is rigidly mounted upon the spider 20g, substantially centrally thereof, in any desired manner. As illustrated, the retaining post 27 includes an enlarged head portion 27a and a lower portion 27b of reduced diameter which is received within a suitable aperture located centrally of the spider 20g, the extremity of the reduced portion 27b being peened over as indicated at 270 so as to securely lock the retaining post in assembled relationship.

The strainer basket and stopper assembly are illustrated in opened or draining position with the spring fingers 28a resting upon the enlarged head portion 27a of the stopper retaining post '27 and with the stopper 26 elevated well above the valve seat 20d. When it is desired to close the sink or basin, and prevent drainage therethrough, the post 25 is depressed vertically to the position illustrated in FIG. 9 of the drawings where the cam surfaces 28]] of the spring fingers 28a will have engaged and passed over the enlarged head portion 27a of the stopper aligning and retaining post 27, thereby effectively guiding the stopper 26 to compressive engagement with the valve seat 20d so as to create a fluid-proof seal therewith, thus eiiective- 1y preventing drainage from the sink or basin. Lifting of the control post and stopper assembly to free the spring fingers 28a from the retaining post 27 is all that is required to restore drainage conditions.

It will be understood that, in this modified form of the invention, opening and closing of the drain may be accomplished without any required disturbance of the strainer basket; however, complete elevation of the control post 25 will carry the strainer basket therewith.

There have thus been described strainer and stopper assemblies of the character with which we here are concerned which constitute vast improvements over prior art practices, may be produced with particular economy, may be installed with ease and without any requirement for skilled labor, and provide an efliciency of operation heretofore unknown in this field.

It will be obvious to those skilled in this art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and the invention is not considered limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification and reference therefore is had to the claims for summaries of the essentials of the invention and of the novel features of construction and novel combinations of parts for all of which protection is desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined drain strainer and stopper assembly, operating means for securing said strainer and stopper in assembled relationship and permitting manual movement of the strainer and stopper assembly from an upper open position to a lower drain-closing position, and upwardly directed stopper aligning and retaining means, said stopper being produced from resilient material and having a centrally located recess in the lower surface thereof, an integral tubular portion of reduced diameter depending from said stopper in surrounding relationship with respect to said centrally located recess, said tubular portion being diametrically slotted to provide a plurality of resilient fingers whereby depression of said strainer and stopper assembly will engage said resilient fingers with said stopper aligning and retaining means thereby aligning said stopper into drain-closing engagement with a valve seat and with the upper extremity of the stopper aligning and retaining means being received Within the centrally located recess in said stopper.

2. A combined drain strainer and stopper assembly as set forth in claim 1 where said operating means extends through centrally located and aligned apertures in said strainer and stopper and each of said resilient fingers has an inwardly directed cam surface which frictionally engages said aligning and retainng means when said strainer and stopper is in drain-closing position.

3. A drain strainer and stopper assembly comprising a tubular housing having a strainer-receiving portion at the upper end thereof, a downwardly inclined portion terminating in a valve seat beneath said strainer-receiving portion, said tubular housing terminating at the lower extremity thereof in a tubular portion of reduced diameter; stopper aligning and retaining means mounted centrally of said tubular portion of reduced diameter, adjacent the lower extremity thereof; a strainer removably supported in said strainer-receiving portion; a post member mounted centrally of said strainer and extending therethrough; a stopper produced from resilient material secured to the lower extremity of said post member, said stopper being movable into drain-closing position relative to said valve seat, the lower surface of said stopper being provided with a centrally located recess; an integral tubular portion of reduced diameter depending from said stopper in surrounding relationship with respect to said centrally cated recess, said tubular portion being diametrically slotted to provide a plurality of resilient fingers, each of said resilient fingers including an inwardly directed cam surface for engagement with the upper extremity of the stopper aligning and retaining means whereby depression of said post member will engage said resilient fingers with said stopper aligning and retaining means thereby aligning said stopper into drain-closing engagement with respect to said valve seat with the upper extremity of the stopper aligning and retaining means entering into the centrally located recess in said stopper.

4. A drain strainer and stopper assembly as set forth in claim 3 where said strainer is fixedly secured to said post member.

5. A drain strainer and stopper assembly as set forth in claim 3 Where said strainer is free for vertical or rotative movement on said post member.

6. A drain strainer and stopper assembly as set forth in claim 3 Where the lower extremity of said tubular portion of reduced diameter on said tubular housing is provided with an inwardly directed flange constituting a spider, said stopper aligning and retaining means is an upstanding post having an enlarged head portion, and each of said resiliet fingers has an inwardly directed cam surface which passes over said enlarged head portion upon depression of said stopper into drain-closing position and frictionally engages said upstanding post.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,136,201 4/1915 Adams 16-38 1,760,659 5/1930 Pasman 4-287 1,859,821 5/1932 Ebinger 4-292 4-287X 2,090,299 8/1937 Kuhnle 4-287 2,438,302 3/1948 Simcich 210-162 4-286X 3,027,569 4/ 1962 Lantz et a1. 4-287 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,031,993 6/1966 Great Britain 4-286 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner 

